Angela (comics)
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| Angela | |
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 Angela, as redesigned by Joe Quesada for her appearance in Marvel Comics. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Image Comics (March 1993 - December 2000) Marvel Comics (March 2013 - Present) |
| First appearance | Spawn #9 (March 1993) |
| Created by | Neil Gaiman Todd McFarlane |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Angel |
| Team affiliations | Heaven, God |
| Abilities | Immortality, Strength, Flight, Trained Warrior, Bounty Hunter |
Angela is a fictional character that was originally part of Todd McFarlane's Spawn comic book series. The character was created for the series by writer Neil Gaiman and artist Todd McFarlane, which led to a legal battle between McFarlane and Gaiman over the rights to the character. She is slated to debut as a part of the Marvel Universe in 2013's Age of Ultron crossover event.
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Fictional character biography [edit]
In the comics, Angela is an angel who acts opposite Spawn as a bounty hunter working under the auspices of Heaven. She attempted to kill Spawn upon their first meeting, but he managed to defeat her despite her significantly greater experience. When he later came to her aid during her trial in Heaven- ironically, he was there to testify that she had permission to attempt to kill him; when they were temporarily trapped in a pocket dimension, Spawn's instinctive restructuring of reality to allow them to return erased Angela's 'permit' to use her weapons against him-, they started a romantic relationship while returning to Earth. Angela was killed during the battle with Malebolgia in Spawn #100.
Publication history [edit]
Angela is a recurring adversary and ally of Spawn, and so is featured often in the series. Her debut was in issue Spawn #9, but she has since appeared in issues #62, #89, and #96 through #100.
In 1994 and 1995, a three-issue Angela limited series was published, written by Gaiman and illustrated by Greg Capullo. The series was later reprinted in a trade paperback titled Angela Trade Paperback (a.k.a. Spawn: Angela's Hunt where in later printings it was retitled as under a new cover design) (ISBN 1-887279-09-1), which, as of 2005, is out-of-print. There was also an Angela stand-alone comic (1995).
Angela has also been featured in several crossovers. The "Rage of Angels" miniseries saw Angela meeting Glory in Angela and Glory (1996), and was continued in Youngblood #6 (1996) and Team Youngblood #21. There was also a crossover Aria/Angela, featuring Angela in the series Aria.
Comic Book Resources confirmed on March 21, 2013 that Neil Gaiman was returning to Marvel Comics and Angela would be coming with him. Although it's unknown how the character fits into the storyline, Joe Quesada is quoted as saying her first appearance as a proper Marvel character will happen at the finale of the Age of Ultron event.[1]
On May 9, 2013 Entertainment Weekly published the first image of Angela as redesigned by Joe Quesada for her appearances in books published by Marvel Comics.[2]
Legal rights [edit]
In 1993 McFarlane contracted Neil Gaiman (along with three other recognized authors, Alan Moore, Dave Sim, and Frank Miller) to write one issue of Spawn. While doing so, Gaiman introduced the characters Angela, Cogliostro, and Medieval Spawn. All three characters were co-created and designed by series creator Todd McFarlane. All continued to be featured in the series after Gaiman's involvement, and some had tie-ins with McFarlane's toy company. Cogliostro had a prominent role in the live-action movie in 1997. McFarlane had initially agreed that Gaiman retained creator rights on the characters, but later claimed that Gaiman's work had been work-for-hire and that McFarlane owned all of Gaiman's co-creations entirely, pointing to the legal indicia in Spawn #9 and the lack of legal contract stating otherwise. McFarlane had also refused to pay Gaiman for the volumes of Gaiman's work he republished and kept in print. In 2002, Gaiman filed suit and won a sizeable judgement against McFarlane and Image Comics for the rights due any creator. All three characters were then co-owned 50/50 by both men. In 2012, McFarlane and Gaiman settled their dispute,[3] and Gaiman was given full ownership of Angela.[4]
On March 21, 2013, Comic Book Resources announced that Angela would be introduced into the Marvel Comics Universe as a major character later in the year to coincide with Neil Gaiman's return to the company.[1]
Appearances in other media [edit]
The character had a minor cameo appearance in the 1997 live action film Spawn; a tall, beautiful red-haired woman with the typical Spawn symbol on her earrings appeared in one scene, and it is hinted, although not specifically stated, that this is meant to be Angela, played by Laura Stepp. She also appeared in the animated HBO series Todd McFarlane's Spawn, voiced by Denise Poirier.
Angela is the subject of a song by heavy metal band Iced Earth called "The Hunter", which appears on their Spawn-themed concept album The Dark Saga.
Awards [edit]
In 1995 and 1996, Angela was nominated for, but did not win, a number of Wizard Fan Awards: 1995 Favorite Villainess, 1995 Character Most Deserving of Own Ongoing Title, 1995 Favorite One-shot or Limited Series/Miniseries, and 1996 Favorite Heroine.
Manga counterpart [edit]
During Ken Kurosawa's travels in the manga Shadows of Spawn, he mistakes another Spawn-hunting angel, Mikaela, to be a normal human. Kurosawa saves her from the Violator, who wanted to eat her heart. Instead of being grateful, she despises Kurosawa for his act, proclaiming he stole her dignity. She decides to try to battle him, but Violator explains that he knows karate as his main fighting skill. She flies off into the night, wanting a rematch when she has learned the martial art.
She reappears to help Kurosawa later in the series, from the clutches of a monstrous phlebiac. The two double-team to defeat the monster, where she disappears shortly thereafter.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Sunu, Steve (March 21, 2013). "Gaiman Returns to Marvel, Brings Spawn's Angela". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013. "Later this year, writer Neil Gaiman makes his return to Marvel Comics...Perhaps even more intriguing is the announcement that Gaiman plans to introduce Angela to the Marvel U."
- ^ Boucher, Geoff. "FIRST LOOK: Neil Gaiman's avenging Angela will make Marvel history". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ Phegley, Kiel. "GAIMAN & MCFARLANE SETTLE SUIT ON MEDIEVAL SPAWN, ANGELA". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
- ^ Ching, Albert. "TODD MCFARLANE Reacts to the Marvel/ANGELA Situation". Newsarama. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
External links [edit]
- Angela at the Comic Book DB
- Angela miniseries
- Angela toy
- Spawn related mini-series
- About legal battle between Gaiman and McFarlane
- http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/op3.fwx?submit1=showop&caseno=03-1331.PDF
- http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9677
- http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2004_02_22_archive.asp#107766958467371937
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